Stop Signs: Requirements and Uses

The stop sign was designed to make drivers aware that they must come to a complete stop and make sure the intersection is clear of vehicles and pedestrians before proceeding.

Main Uses of Stop Signs

• To assign right-of-way at an intersection
• To prevent crashes in areas with high traffic flow and volume (in an area with a very high rate, a traffic light may be more effective)
• To ensure traffic flows smoothly and predictably
• In areas where sight distances approaching the intersection are substandard and approaching traffic would run a strong risk of being involved in collisions
• On a street leading into a through street or highway
• Places with high frequencies of car crashes

Stop signs are considered a regulatory sign because they give notice of traffic laws or regulations. Regulatory signs need to be retroreflective or illuminated to show the same shape and similar color both by day and night. High Intensity Prismatic and Diamond Grade reflective materials meet the standard reflectivity requirement for stop signs because of their retroreflective properties.

Stop Sign Size Requirements

There are also specific requirements for the size of a stop sign depending on where it is being installed. The size requirements are as follows:

All-way and 4-way plaques are often purchased along with stop signs in areas where there are safety concerns associated with pedestrians, bicyclists, and all road users expecting other road users to stop. Often found at intersections or where a road doesn't have a traffic light, stop signs are one of the most important and significant road traffic signs there is. For a deeper dive, the FHWA publishes helpful resources on standards governing municipal use of stop signs, intersection safety issue briefs, and minimum sign retroreflectivity requirements.